Self-adjusting slip box



June 14, 1949.

R. w. E RLBACHER v SELF-ADJUSTING SLIP BOX Filed Jan. 8, 1947 j 4 ROBERT \AL-ERLBAcHER JNVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SELF-ADJUSTING SLIP BOX Robert W. Erlbacher, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Application January 8, 1947, Serial No. 720,855

This invention relates to self-adjusting slip boxes for retaining the alignment of the parts of a mold adapted to receive molten metal. More especially, it relates to a slip box which rigidly supports the side walls of the mold but which is yieldable so that it may readily be applied to the mold.

In the preparation of molds for casting of metals it is common practice to make the mold of two or more parts, having the side walls so inclined that when the parts are superposed in the order required to form the desired cavity, the side walls form a continuous incline and the mold forms, in efiect, a irustum of a pyramid.

In order to support the side walls of the mold against the pressure exerted by the molten metal, it is necessary to place a form, which is cailed a slip box, around the mold. In the usual form this slip box is merely a rigid, hollow, open topped frusto-pyramid having the same dimensions as the mold and, consequently, it must be lowered straight down from directly above the mold with the axes of the mold and box in exact alignment if damage to the mold is to be avoided. These conditions of application of the box cannot be obtained in practice with the result that the molds are frequently damaged.

To overcome this difficulty I provide a slip box which is made up of a number of side pieces equal to the number of sides of the mold, each of which is mounted on each of the adjacent sides for pivoting about its longitudinal or horizontal axis.

Further, the pivotal connections are so formed that there is sufiicient play to permit displacement of the sides slightly out of square so that any such variations in the molds may be cared for.

It is an object of the invention to provide a slip box which is cheap and economical to manuiacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slip box which is adjustable to conform to the taper of the mold.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slip box which is adjustable to conform to the perimeter of the mold.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a slip box which is automatically adjustable to conform to both the perimeter and the taper of the mold.

It is another object of the invention to provide a slip box which has its sides pivoted, each to the other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slip box in which the sides are mounted upon one another, each for pivoting about a horizontal axis.

Another object is to provide stops for limiting the pivoting movement.

Still another object is to provide stops of the 6 Claims. (Cl. 22112) 2 type described which are formed by being punched from the side walls.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide headed pivot pins or equivalent structure such as a stud and nut, each of which projects through an aperture in one side plate and has its shank welded to the end of the adjacent plate.

These and additional objects will become apparent from a study of this specification and the drawings which are attached hereto and made a part hereof, and in which:

Figure l is a plan View of the slip box showing by dotted lines one shape which the box may assume to conform to a mold which is not square.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device of Figure 1 showing, in dotted lines, various positions to which the sides may be tilted to conform to the taper of a mold.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the pivot pm.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2 showing the limit stops.

' Figure 5 is an elevation showing a welded form of lug.

Referring now to the drawings, the slip box here shown is for a square mold and comprises four identical side members I. It is obvious, however, that the box may be of any other polygonal form and that the length of the members may vary to suit the requirements.

Each side has a hole 3 formed in one end, preferably on the horizontal center line of the side, and is provided with a horizontally extending pivot pin 5 at the other end. The pin is disposed so as to enter the hole 3 of the adjacent side member which, of course, extends beyond or overlaps the side member carrying the pin as shown at l in Figures 2 and 3. The pin is preferably provided with a head 9. This structure is conveniently supplied by simply inserting a rivet through the opening and welding the shank of the rivet to the member l as at H.

The ends I3 of each side member I are preferably out so as to be parallel to the tapered side of the mold. It should be understood, however, that the slip box will also fit vertical sided molds. Two tab-s G5, which are preferably disposed parallel to the edge it on the same end as that which bears the hole 3, are preferably formed by being punched inwardly out of said member, leaving openings M. The tabs are disposed one above and the other below the hole. The tabs thus form stops to limit the amount of pivoting of the member I about the pin 5. Of course, the stops may be formed by other means, such as by pieces is welded in place on the member as shown in Figure 5.

The right and left side members are shown in 3 one of the pivoted positions which they may occupy, by dotted lines in Figure 2. As is shown in dotted lines on the right of Figure 2 and in full lines on the left of the same figure, there is a space I! between the outer surface of side member I and the inner faces of the tabs I5; and since the pins 5 fit the holes 3 rotatably but not loosely as shown in Figure 3, there is some latitude both for pivoting of the member about the pin and for some tipping of the side member on thepin sothat the angle of the corner may vary from ninety degrees in either direction. This {is-illustrated by showing variation in one direction in dotted lines in Figure 1.

When the side members are forced outwardly against the heads of thepins so thatthe spaces l! are extended to the fullest extent, the mold contacting side of the member I is positioned in-the proper position and at theproper angle to conform to the side of a perfect mold.

The tabs merely prevent too great a rotation of the members about the pins and make the slip box easy to handle.

The flanges l9 along the top and bottom of each side member join the member by means of a generous fillet or curve 2| so that there will be no sharp corner to engage the mold. The .corners of the flanges are also preferably rounded as at 23 to prevent injury to the operator.

Operation Inview of the foregoing description it will be seen that the slip box will be held over the mold with the side members spread out at the bottom and lowered down over the mold. As the side members contact the mold they will pivot about and tilt on the pins until they conform to the mold and Will rest against the heads of the pins. The box is then capable of supporting the mold against bursting pressures caused by the pouring of molten metal into the mold cavity.

'If the mold is not square or ii the taper of a side is not exactly perfect, the corresponding side member or members of the box will adjust themelves automatically to conform to the mold and will support it properly all around.

.It, is obvious that various changes maybe made in the form, structure and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant doesv not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What. I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a slip box for a mold, a plurality of horizontal side members each having an end overlapping the end of an adjacent member and being overlapped at the other end by the member adjacent that end, pivot means on the adjacent members connecting the ends of said members for pivoting about their horizontal axes and stop means for limiting the pivoting movement, said stops comprising ears punched from one end of each member and extending inwardly beyond the overlapped end and exteriorly thereof.

,2. In a slip box for a mold, a plurality of hom zontal side members. disposed with each having one. end overlappin an. end of the next adjacent member, pivot means on the adjacent members connecting the ends of said members for pivoting about their horizontal axes and stop means on the overlappingmember projecting inwardly beyond the end and exteriorly of the overlapped member for limiting the pivoting movement, said stop means comprising lugs welded in place on one end of each member.

'3. In ea. joint for the side members of a slip box, the combination of two side members, one disposed in overlapping relation to the other, said overlapping member having an opening theoverlapping portion thereof, a pin fixed to the overlapped .end of the other member, near the middle of the end thereof, extending toward said overlapping member, projecting through said opening and terminating in a head, and stop means on said overlapping member on opposite sides of the opening projecting inwardly beyond the end and exteriorly of the overlapped member to limit the pivotal motion of said members.

4. In a "joint for the side members of a slip box, the combination of two side members, one disposed in overlapping relation to the other, said overlapping member having an opening in the overlapping portion thereof, a pin disposed at the overlapped end of the other member, near the middle of said end, fixed thereto, projecting through said opening and terminating in a head, and stopmeans on said overlapping member projecting inwardly beyond the end and exteriorly of the overlapped member and disposed above and below said pin to limit the pivotal motion of said members.

5. In a slip box, a plurality of horizontal side members disposed with each having one end overlapping an end of .the next adjacent member, each of saidmembers having an opening in the overlapping end, a pin on the overlapped end of each adjacent member, near the middle of said end, extending through said opening and terminating in a head, stops disposed upon each overlapping end on each side of the pin and in position to contact the exterior of the overlapped member to limit the pivotal motion about the pin, said members, individually, being formed as a regular trapezoid with the ends inclined and said stops being arranged parallel to the adjacent end of the member on which they are disposed.

.6. In a slip box, a plurality of horizontal side members formed of sheet metal disposed with each having .one end overlapping an end of the next adjacent member, each of said members having an opening in the overlapping end, a pin permanently fixed to the overlapped end of each adiacent member, near the middle of the end thereof, extending through the opening in the adjacent overlapping member and terminating in head. stop means punched from each overlapping and extending inwardly past and exteriorly of the adjacent overlapped end on opposite sides of the opening and flanges joined to the horizontal edges of each member by means of relatively large radius fillets.

ROBERT W. ERLBACHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 952,679 MacPhail Mar. 22, 1910 1,271,752 Nute July 9, 1918 1,340,248 Petit May 18, 1920 2,050,778 Bester Aug. 11, 1935 2,265,926 Pike Dec. 9, 1941 

